VOLUME 15 / ISSUE 5 / SPRING 2015

C O M M E RC I A L

CONNECTIONS
A P U B L I C AT I O N B Y T H E N AT I O N A L A S S O C I AT I O N O F R E A LT O R S

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A BROADER & BRIGHTER OUTLOOK

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
NAR VIEWPOINT / A Note from The NAR President
ADVOCACY / Focusing in on Commercial Issues
ENRICHMENT / 5 Ways to Broaden Your Horizons
PULL-OUT SECTION / Commercial Services: A Quick Guide

C O M M E RC I A L

CONNECTIONS
NAR PRESIDENT

Chris Polychron, GRI, CIPS, CRS

Hot Springs, AR

N A R C O M M E RC I A L L I A I S O N

Daniel E. Sight, CCIM, SIOR

Leawood, KS

C O M M E RC I A L C O M M I T T E E C H A I R

Steven Moreira, CCIM, CIPS, GREEN

Longwood, FL

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Dale A. Stinton, CAE, CMA, CPA, RCE

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
C O M M E RC I A L & G L O B A L S E RV I C E S

Janet Branton, CAE, CIPS

VICE PRESIDENT
C O M M E RC I A L & G L O B A L S E RV I C E S

Jan Hope, RCE, CIPS

DEVELOPMENT
& S E RV I C E S D I R E C TO R

Jean Maday, RCE

MARKETING &
C O M M U N I C AT I O N S M A N AG E R

Lauren Van Holten

R E S E A RC H D I R E C TO R

George Ratiu
D E V E L O P M E N T & S E RV I C E S C O O R D I N ATO R

Shara Varner
L E G I S L AT I V E P O L I C Y R E P R E S E N TAT I V E

Erin Stackley
R E G U L AT O RY P O L I C Y R E P R E S N TAT I V E

Stephanie Spear
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Omega Printing, Inc.

An Inc. 500 and NAPL Hall of Fame Company

www.omegaprinting.com

Realtor.org/Commercial

THE LATEST
Attend

Hill visits are back and your voice matters! Join us for the 2015
REALTORS Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo, May 1116th in Washington, D.C. There are many governance meetings
for commercial members, as well as a special networking reception just for you to meet your colleagues from across the country
- and maybe even make a connection on a deal! For a detailed
schedule and to register, go to Realtor.org/Midyear.

Discover

On pages 10-11 youll find a special section highlighting the resources, services and benefits that Commercial practitioners can
access and utilize, provided as part of your NAR membership.
If you have specific questions, or would like NAR to help your
local board develop or strengthen local Commercial Member
services, please contact Shara Varner at svarner@realtors.org.

Learn

In March, NAR launched a new NAR/United States Pavilion

at MIPIM, an international commercial real estate event
in France. NAR, local association partners from Miami,
Birmingham, and Illinois, as well as the CCIM Institute
showcased the opportunity for real estate investment in U.S.
markets - and the expertise of our members.
Find highlights at Realtor.org/MIPIM.

Participate

The NAR REach Class of 2015 will launch later this month,
along with your opportunity to get involved as part of the programs Insight Panel. Your commercial practitioner perspective is
needed to help shape the tools and products of these companies.
Stay tuned to communications from NAR and if you are attending the May meetings in D.C., be sure to visit the Trade Expo and
meet the companies selected. Visit narreach.com to learn more.

Update

When was the last time you changed the batteries in your smoke
detectors at home? Take the time now to do so and also take 5
minutes to update your NRDS Member profile with your contact information and Fields of Business, which helps us ensure
you get the information best applicable to your specialty. Visit
Realtor.org and click on My Account to access your NRDS profile to make changes. Need help? Contact your local board or
NARCommercial@realtors.org.

NAR VIEWPOINT

A N OT E
F RO M
THE PRESIDENT

B Y C H R I S P O LY C H R O N , G R I , C I P S , C R S

C H R I S P O LY C H R O N , G R I , C I P S , C R S

By far, one of my favorite moments from last years

annual conference in New Orleans was an event far
away from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter.
I was standing outside of the legendary Dew Drop Inn
on LaSalle Street, located in Uptown. From the 1940s
through the 60s, the Dew Drop was a nationallyknown music venue. Its been closed for decades. That
night, it was the focus of our Better Block event.
Better Block is a program that seeks to revitalize
commercial downtowns through community
collaboration. These arent events with huge fanfares.
They use pop-up stores, food vendors, and music to
show local leaders what an area can look like with a
little effort. In the grand scheme of things, one single
business can have an impact that will last for years.
This is why commercial policy is a cornerstone of
NARs advocacy agenda. We enjoy the benefits of these
policies every time we visit a small business or enjoy an
afternoon in a bustling neighborhood.
Throughout the year, I will be working with our NAR
staff and members of the Commercial Legislation
and Regulatory Advisory Board to keep commercial
legislation at the forefront of the discussion in
Congress. Whether its trying to thaw out the freeze
in our credit markets or keeping on top of changes
to bank capital standards, we need to protect and
enhance the flow of capital to commercial real estate.
More than $1.2 trillion in commercial real estate loans
will come due over the next few years, and our nations
economy depends on it.

We will also continue to better understand how these

policies translate to the state and local levels. In a recent
survey of NAR members who use Section 1031 likekind exchanges, we discovered some compelling facts.
Without the Sec. 1031 exchange framework, 37%
of members believe their deals would definitely not
have happened. For deals that may have closed absent
the Sec. 1031 exchange framework, more than half
surveyed indicated that project would have been
smaller than it was. Finally, commercial practitioners
indicated that 50% of the value of real estate sold or
transferred was a direct result of Sec. 1031 exchanges.
With the average worth of these deals being over $21
million, thats $10 million of value as a direct result of
public policy. That sounds like good public policy to
me. We need to defend it.
We have communicated our priorities directly to
President Obama and we are active in a number
of coalitions that advocate for smart, sensible,
commercial policy. When we take our message directly
to lawmakers, they listen. We will continue to do this
and with your involvement, we can make our voice
even louder and stronger. We plan on reaching them
not just in D.C., but in their home districts as well,
making sure they can see the tangible effects in their
own backyards.
Thank you for all the work you do. Our nations
communities depend on it.

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

SPRING 2015

ADVOCACY

FOCUSING
IN ON
C O M M E RC I A L I S S U E S
Every day, NAR advocates on behalf of you and your more than 1 million
member colleagues, as well as 75 million property owners. Our efforts in
Washington D.C. are focused on protecting your ability to do business so
that your time can be spent building relationships with your clients, conducting
transactions and strengthening your community.
1031 Like-Kind Exchange

In the 113th Congress, proposals to eliminate or

drastically limit Sec. 1031 like-kind exchanges were
offered, but not adopted; additionally the Presidents
FY 2015 budget would have limited them to $1million
per taxpayer per year. In the 114th Congress, we have
yet to see any tax reform plans or other legislation that
would repeal or limit Sec. 1031, but any new plans
will likely borrow heavily from these previous ones,
signaling that Sec. 1031 is vulnerable.
In a recent survey, NAR members reported that over
the last four years, most have engaged in between one
to six transactions featuring a Sec. 1031 like-kind
exchange; of those transactions, between 37%-45%
of them likely would not have happened without Sec.
1031, and over 50% would have been smaller. Eightyfive percent of NAR members indicated that they
or their clients invest additional capital to improve

SPRING 2015

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

properties involved in Sec. 1031 exchanges, with more

than half of the respondents indicating that the capital
allocated to improvements makes up 10%-24% of the
properties fair market value. Clearly, this is a provision
that is important not just to real estate, but also to the
economy as a whole. Sec. 1031 exchanges allow for
the efficient use of property, encouraging the flow of
capital among investments and supporting economic
growth and job creation.
NAR opposes any efforts to repeal Sec. 1031, and
is working hard to educate Members of Congress,
especially those on the tax-writing committees, on
what Sec. 1031 is and why it should be protected. In
addition, NAR also participates in two coalitions to
protect Sec. 1031, which have commissioned studies
on its macroeconomic effects and effects on real estate.
NAR participated in a legislative day on the issue,
meeting with Members of Congress in Washington,
D.C. to discuss it, and also has set up in-district

meetings for NAR members and other industry groups

to meet with their Members on the topic.

Commercial Lending

While experts expect 2015 to continue on many of

the same upward trajectories as 2014, there are four
areas with possible changes. The first is through the
Financial Accounting Standards Boards (FASB)
proposed changes to lease accounting standards, part
of a larger standards convergence effort between FASB
and the International Accounting Standards Board
(IASB), which began in 2006. The final updated lease
accounting standards are expected in late spring or early
summer 2015, and will likely be similar to the FASBs
current dual model of lease accounting. NAR has been
lobbying on this issue for some time and participates
in a real-estate industry coalition which works with
both the SEC and Congress on the proposal.
The second change is potential adjustments to the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act. Many of the enhanced banking
requirements have now been in place for four years,
but many legislators have vowed to scale back those
requirements. Given that the 114th Congress has just
begun, it is unclear now exactly what those changes
will look like, or how successful they will be. This is
an area to watch and NAR will continue to monitor it
closely for changes.
The third area where change is expected is crowdfunding. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
anticipates finalizing its crowdfunding rules in October 2015. These rules are the final part of the Jumpstart
Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act of 2012 to be enacted. The first draft of the rules were widely criticized
by both supporters and detractors of crowdfunding as
a financing vehicle, so it will be interesting to see what
comes out of the review process. Many states have already enacted successful intrastate crowdfunding regulations. NAR monitored this issue as it has developed
at the SEC and will continue to advocate for fair and
consumer-friendly rules this fall.

it could create excellent opportunities for refinancing,

or create too much of a crunch on credit. NAR staff
have been watching this issue vigilantly and will keep
members informed of any changes.

Net Neutrality

Net neutrality requires that broadband networks be

free of restrictions on content, sites, or platforms; they
should not restrict the equipment that may be used
with them, nor the modes of communication allowed
on them. Finally, it ensures that communication is not
unreasonably downgraded by other communication
streams. As real estate business is increasingly
conducted online, through streaming videos, virtual
tours, and voice-over-internet protocol, having quality
and reliable broadband networks is critical to NAR
members. As new technologies are adopted, this will
no doubt only grow in importance.
NAR supports policies to ensure that broadband
providers adhere to net neutral practices, and was
pleased by the announcement of the FCCs new rules
to protect net neutrality in February 2015. These
new rules prohibit paid prioritization, which would
have created a two-tiered internet putting many
NAR members and other small business owners at
a competitive disadvantage. In the six months prior
to the announcement of the new rules, NAR sent six
letters to Congress in support of net neutrality, and
a comment letter to the FCC on its Open Internet
proposed rulemaking. As the FCC implements its
regulations, NAR will continue to monitor the issue
to ensure that real estate content may be freely and
efficiently distributed online.
To stay informed about action NAR is taking on behalf
of its members and the real estate industry on these and
other issues, visit www.REALTOR.org/political-advocacy
or email NARCommercial@realtors.org directly to get
connected to the NAR Policy Representative monitoring
a specific issue.

The fourth is the expected wave of CMBS backed loans

coming due. Experts are of mixed opinion on this, as

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

SPRING 2015

ADVOCACY

2015 NAR
L E G I S L AT I V E
AND
R E G U L ATO RY
PRIORITIES
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Protecting the business operations of members is
always a priority for NAR. There are a number of
issues before Congress and the Federal Regulatory
Agencies that could have a significant impact on the
business operations of real estate firms.
Dodd-Frank Act Regulations (3% Cap on Fees
and Points, RESPA/TILA Harmonization)
Technology Issues (Data Privacy & Security,
Copyright Protections, Net Neutrality,
Patent Reform)
Appraiser Independence Regulations
COMMERCIAL
More than $1.2 trillion in commercial real estate
loans will come due over the next few years, and
many of these deals will have trouble getting
financing. NAR supports consideration of legislation
and regulations to protect and enhance the flow of
capital to commercial real estate.
Commercial Real Estate Liquidity
Basel III
Lease Accounting

NAR has briefs on all issues being monitored by

staff via the Federal Issues Tracker at
Realtor.org/political-advocacy/all-advocacy-issues.

SPRING 2015

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

CREDIT AND LENDING POLICIES

Overly stringent lending standards have continued to
limit the availability of affordable mortgage financing
for credit worthy consumers. Federal policymakers
are weighing a number of proposals aimed at creating
healthier housing and mortgage markets.
Credit Availability
GSE (Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac) Restructuring,
Liquidity and Lending
FHA Single-Family Mortgage Program
FHA Condominium Requirements

HOMEOWNERSHIP & REAL ESTATE

INVESTMENT TAX POLICIES
The growing federal debt, weak economic recovery,
and continued growth of tax complexity have kept tax
reform near the top of the national agenda. Members
of Congress from both Houses and both parties have
expressed a high level of interest in reforming the
tax system, and President Obama has also expressed
qualified support, especially for corporate or business
tax reform. This ongoing debate places a variety of
tax laws, including those affecting commercial and
residential real estate, under increased scrutiny.
1031 Like-Kind Exchanges
Capital Gains
Mortgage Interest Deduction
Mortgage Debt Cancellation Tax Relief

FREE
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EXPOSURE
FOR YOUR
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COMMERCIALSEARCH.COM

BY THE NUMBERS

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Source: February 2015; CommercialSearch.com is operated by Xceligent, a REALTOR Benefits Partner. Listings are
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C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

SPRING 2015

ENRICHMENT

5 WAY S TO
B ROA D E N
YOUR
H O R I ZO N S
CONNECT WITH WHERE YOUR CLIENTS COME FROM &
W H E R E Y O U R B U S I N E S S I S TA K I N G Y O U

PURSUE EDUCATION
Financial Analysis for Commercial
Investment Real Estate (CCIM)
Commercial Real Estate Negotiations
(CCIM)
Foundations for Success in Commercial
Real Estate (CCIM)
Communicating Across Cultures (IREM)
International Aspects of Real Estate (RLI)
Certified International Property Specialist
(NAR)

Courses include Local Markets,
Business Tools as well as regional
courses on Europe, Asia/Pacific and
The Americas
At Home with Diversity (NAR)

TAP INTO INTERNATIONAL

CHAPTERS, ALLIANCES &
ORGANIZATIONS
84 NAR Global Alliances with real estate
associations around the world
24 international chapters through NARs
commercial affiliate organizations:

6 CCIM Chapters

14 IREM Chapters

4 SIOR Chapters
Thousands of economic development
organizations (chambers of commerce,
industry groups, community development).
SelectUSA.gov is an excellent resource

SPRING 2015

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

3
4
5

PUT NARS REPORTS & RESEARCH

TO USE
State-by-state international business reports
Dozens of field guides on international,
commercial real estate & investment
Quarterly reports on a variety of topics
including lending and local market
outlooks
ATTEND EVENTS
Local: attend mixers and networking events
occurring in your local market area
National: REALTORS Conference & Expo,
CCIM Live, SIOR Fall World Conference,
IREM Fall Leadership Conference,
ICSC REcon, RLI Land Conference
International: consider Expo REAL or
MIPIM
ACCESS TOOLS TO HELP YOU
BRIDGE GAPS
Hire experts to gain exposure to new
cultures (translators, country managers, local
guides)
T
 ake your business applications mobile
& to the cloud: start using smarter
communication & organizational
applications

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

SPRING 2015

SPECIAL MEMBER BENEFITS SECTION

COMMERCIA
ADVOCACY

EDUCATI

www.realtor.org/commercia

www.realtor.org/political-advocacy

D
 esignations ALC, CCIM, CP
Online & Classroom Courses
R
 EALTOR University Masters
Commercial Podcasts

Federal Level:

2015 Public Policy Priorities

Federal Issues Tracker

Commercial Issues & Actions

W
 ashington Report
State & Local Levels:

REALTOR Party Initiatives

RPAC

Broker Involvement Program

PUBLICAT
& INFORM

RESEARCH

www.realtor.org/commerci

www.realtor.org/commercial/research
Commercial Real Estate Lending Survey Annual Report
Commercial Real Estate Market Survey Quarterly Report
Commercial Real Estate Quarterly Outlook
Expectations in Market Realities Annual Report
State-by-State International Business Reports
Local Market Assessment Case Studies
REALTOR University Journal of the
Center for Real Estate Studies

PULL

OUT
&KEEP

AS A HANDY REFERENCE!

10

SPRING 2015

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

C
 ommercial Connections Qua
The Source Commercial Blog
Field Guides
N
 AR Library eBooks, Journals,
Business Letter Templates and m
R
 EALTOR Magazine Commer
N
 AR Weekly Report Commerci

AL SERVICES
A quick guide to your NAR membership

ION

al/edu

PM, CRE, SIOR

Degree

TIONS
MATION

ial

arterly Print Publication

, Audiobooks,
more
rcial coverage
ial section

TECHNOLOGY
www.realtor.org/commercial/tech

CommercialSearch
REALTORS Property Resource (RPR)
Xceligent
realtor.com/International
NAR REach Technology Accelerator Program Companies

REALTOR
BENEFITS
PROGRAM

www.realtor.org/programs/realtor-benefits-program
Financial Services & Risk Management
Personal Insurance
Marketing Resources
Electronics & Mobile Technology
Travel & Automotive
Technology Services

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

SPRING 2015

11

RESEARCH

T R A N S L AT I N G
THE MARKET
OUTLOOK
First quarter forecasts are typical in the business world, but relating those
predictions to the commercial real estate industry can be a challenge.
We solicited insight from George Ratiu, NARs Director of Commercial
Research, and members across the country for their take on why the outlook for
commercial real estate is looking so good from their point of view.
Why is 2015 expected to be a strong year for
commercial real estate?
As economic factors continue improving
employment, consumer confidence and spending,
business investments commercial real estate
fundamentals strengthen. Net absorption is expected
to increase across all property types in 2015, as demand
for commercial space grows. Completions of new
commercial spaces are also growing, but at a slower
pace than absorption, leading to declines in availability
and rising rents. The only exception to the rule comes
in the apartment markets, where strong new supply is
already exerting downward pressure on rents.
As fundamentals ensure growing positive cash flows,
investors continue to find commercial assets attractive.
Since the post-recession trough of 2009, investment
sales have posted higher volume with each subsequent
year and 2014 was no exception. Sales volume in
2014 totaled $433 billion, according to Real Capital
Analytics. Prices rose across the board, with apartment
and CBD office properties exceeding pre-recession

12

SPRING 2015

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

peaks. Moreover, in 2014 commercial lending found

new vigor, as sources broadened and capital availability
increased. In light of these factors, 2015 should offer
continued advances in property prices, sales volume
and leasing activity.
Whats all the excitement about regarding
secondary and tertiary markets as a target for
institutional investors?
Secondary and tertiary markets were much slower to
succumb to the economic recession, and they were also
much slower to recover. Whereas for primary markets
the commercial real estate rebound initiated in 2010,
for most secondary/tertiary markets the rebound
did not occur until 2013. Last year marked the first
year of sustained strong growth for secondary and
tertiary markets, indicating broad-based improvement
in both economic and commercial real estate terms.
Moreover, due to their position, secondary and tertiary
markets offer investors higher yields on commercial
investments. As primary markets became crowded over
the past three years and available inventory shrank,

investors found the higher returns in secondary and

tertiary markets attractive, especially as fundamentals
strengthened.
Are there any noteworthy segments in those markets
that are performing particularly well or not well
(e.g. warehousing in the southeast; land in the
southwest; hospitality in the northeast)?
The coastal markets continue to provide strong
performance for the retail sector, driven by rising
employment, higher wages and tourism. In terms of
industrial properties, ports, intermodal transportation
hubs and distribution centers are expected to drive
growth in major markets like Chicago, Atlanta, Los
Angeles, Miami and also smaller key markets like
Jacksonville, St. Louis and Charlotte. For the office
sector, growing urban centers will continue as strong
performers in 2015. Agricultural land in the Great
Plains has seen strong price growth over the past few
years, as institutional investors found it an attractive
hedge instrument against inflation expectations,
coupled with strong returns.

Members can find information

on specific property types and
investment trends from these
industry sources:

CCIM CRE IREM RLI

SIOR Real Capital Analytics
Axiometrics PKF
What local factors or economic indicators can
members in small to mid-sized markets look for in
order to help their clients capitalize on improving
access to financing?
Tracking basic economic factors such as employment,
wages and retail spending at the local level provides
important insight into the overall health of markets.

Based on NARs Commercial Lending Survey, the

majority of our members consider local and regional
banks as the main sources of capital. Maintaining
relationships with local lending sources is likely to
provide timely updates on changes in lending terms
and cost of capital. As sources of capital are likely to
continue broadening, members should remain aware
of additional sources of liquidity which have become
more active in smaller marketsinstitutional investors,
insurance companies, cross-border capital. Based on
my interaction with members, many of our members
are keenly aware of local trends and well-positioned to
see changing conditions in their markets.
What national or international economic
indicators should members continue to watch?
In addition to the performance of the national
economy, I would consider the changes in interest
rates a fundamental indicator, as it directly relates to
cost of capital. Also, while considering employment
trends, personal and household income would be
figures worth following, as they translate into both
consumer confidence and consumer spending.
Internationally, maintaining an awareness of global
economic health provides insights into how the U.S.
economy and markets perform relative to other major
countries. Having an eye on currency exchange trends
offers a view on the relative cost of U.S. commercial
properties. With cross-border investors accounting
for about 10 percent of U.S. commercial transactions,
the value of the dollar relative to major currencies can
impact this segment of the market.
How are hot button issues like low oil prices,
a strong dollar and improving job numbers
impacting the commercial real estate market?
Given the wide-ranging issues, it will mostly depend
on the market and property type. Low oil prices are
clearly a boon for consumersas it provides additional
money in their pocketsand consumer spending,
leading to stronger retail sales, auto sales and recreation
expenditures. At the same time, lower oil prices are
having a negative impact on some aspects of the U.S.
energy sector, leading to possible layoffs and negative

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

SPRING 2015

13

RESEARCH

impacts in energy-centered markets. Similarly, a

strong dollar benefits importers and U.S. consumers of
foreign products, while making U.S. products and U.S.
real estate more expensive for foreign buyers. In terms
of commercial real estate, I expect the impact to be
mixed. In light of the global economic slowdown, the
performance and returns offered by U.S. commercial
properties will continue to make them attractive for
cross-border institutional investors, pension funds,
and sovereign wealth funds.

On balance, the health of U.S. commercial real estate is

heavily dependent on the health of the U.S. economy
and domestic markets. Continued improvement in
employment, especially coupled with increases in
income and wages, will have a much stronger and
sustainable impact on commercial real estate in 2015
and beyond. Broader strengthening of macroeconomic
fundamentals matched to a stronger post-recession
financial sector will provide the capital to grow small
businesses, nascent industries, and drive innovation, all
of which will lead to increased demand for commercial
properties.

COMMERCIAL EXPECTATIONS FOR 2015

COMMERCIAL FUNDAMENTALS OUTLOOK

OFFICE
VACANCY
RATES

INDUSTRIAL SPACE
VACANCY
RATES

RETAIL SPACE
VACANCY
RATES

0.1%

0.4%

0.3%

GDP: 3.1

MULTIFAMILY
VACANCY
RATES

0.1%

Apartment Rents: 3.7%

MULTIFAMILY NET ABSORPTION

171,978

Multifamily housing continues to be the top-performing

sector with current rental demand exceeding supply
leading to rent growth that is easily outpacing inflation
in many metro areas throughout the country

POTENTIAL SPEED BUMPS

Weaknesses in the global economy

Economic sluggishness overseas
Strengthening U.S. Dollar

FOR NARS LATEST COMMERCIAL RESEARCH & STATISTICS, VISIT Realtor.org/commercial/research

14

SPRING 2015

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

RESEARCH

MEMBER PERSPECTIVES
We are seeing activity across all segments and classes
increasing significantly. Whereas Best of Class A properties
used to only be in a market of their own, commanding
the majority of the attention, were now seeing all asset
categories and property classes receiving significant activity.
This is a collusive cycle with market activity driving new
development, which in turn drives 1031 re-investment.
Maintaining the 1031 tax deferment and reinvestment
structure allowed under the current tax code is what keeps
the cycle flowing.
JARED BOOTH, CCIM, MBA
Salt Lake City, Utah

The industrial market in SE Wisconsin has been the

most active I have experienced in over 15 years. We
are experiencing multiple industrial spec buildings in
different submarkets, which is the first time in many years
due to the shortage of quality product. Our inventory of
quality industrial buildings is at an all-time shortage due
to the strong occupancy rates of leased properties and the
large number of sales of existing buildings.
STEPHEN PROVANCHER
Milwaukee, WI

If the U.S. sustains current reduced oil prices, not only will
it put an average of about $750 of additional spendable
money in each household, an equal amount will be saved
by households in the Northeast or Midwest, which benefit
from less expensive heating oil. This translates to higher
retail spending, more families taking that long overdue
vacation, etc. Downtowns are also hot! Its not necessarily
office, and not just the 24-hour cities, such as NY, SF
and D.C., but Orlando and Charlotte that are seeing
construction booms, which are in large part multi-family
projects. This will spill over into additional demand for
restaurants, shopping, etc.
LOU NIMKOFF, CCIM, CPM
Winter Park, FL
One of the most challenging issues facing commercial
real estate the last few years has been the lack of available
funds for the purchase or refinancing of new projects. I
am encouraged to see that capital is now available from
local and regional banks for the purchase or refinancing
of projects. I personally had three banks bidding on the
financing for a purchase I was making. Of course, deals
need a down payment and businesses need cash flow, but
it is great news for us brokers and investors.
DAN SIGHT, CCIM, SIOR
Leawood, KS

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

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15

RESEARCH

C RO S S - B O R D E R
INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

by Peter C. Burley, CRE, Director, Richard J. Rosenthal Center for Real Estate Studies

Real estate investment has become a global enterprise. Both the U.S. and
Canada are on investment target lists for investors from all over the world.
Global transaction activity has soared in the last few years as capital seeks solid
returns, market growth and stability. Much of that activity is being directed
toward the North American markets.
In fact, foreign investment in both residential and
commercial real estate in both the U.S. and Canada is
changing and challenging the market in dramatic
ways. In the case of commercial real estate markets,
foreign purchases of U.S. properties totaled $41 billion
in 2014, according to a recent CBRE report, roughly
about 11% of all investment in U.S. property assets.
Small wonder. The U.S., Germany, U.K., and Canada
rank at the top of foreign investor lists for stability
and security, according to the Association of Foreign
Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE), in its latest 2015
survey of members. Switzerland ranks fifth.1

AFIRE SURVEY
MOST STABLE & SECURE COUNTRIES
2015 2014

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

UNITED STATES
(1)
GERMANY (3)
UNITED KINGDOM
(5)
CANADA (2)
SWITZERLAND
(4)

Source: Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate, 2015

Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate, 2015

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C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

Improving economic conditions continue to be a

motivating force in the investment decision as well.
And, once again, both the U.S. and Canada are viewed
most favorably.
Noting that international flows have been steadily
rising into the U.S. and Canada, the Richard
J. Rosenthal Center for Real Estate Studies at
REALTOR University undertook an extensive survey
to discover how practitioners on the ground in both
countries experienced and perceived international
investment trends in collaboration with the Canadian
Real Estate Association, the CCIM Institute, Institute
of Real Estate Management (IREM) and the National
Association of REALTORS.
Survey results largely confirm the academic and
professional literature as well as media reports.
Interestingly, of non-North American clients (nonCanadian or non-U.S.), distinct patterns emerge
that differentiate international investment in the
two countries. Non-U.S. international investment
in Canada is clearly dominated by Asian interests,
with nearly half (47 percent) of Canadian survey
respondents indicating that their international clients
are from Asia. As noted in the Rosenthal Center report,

RESEARCH
CANADA

WHAT PERCENT
OF INTERNATIONAL
CLIENTS ARE FROM:

UNITED STATES

CONTINENTS
ASIA
EUROPE
LATIN AMERICA
MIDDLE EAST
OTHER

(MEAN OF THE PERCENTAGE)

substantial Asian clientele have been flowing into

Western Canada, and practitioner responses reflect a
large volume of transactions originating from Asia. A
similar trend has been emerging in the Northwestern
U.S., according to recent reports. About 40 percent
of U.S. respondents reported that their international
investors were from Asia.
Outside of Asian investment and U.S.-Canada
investment, however, international investment in the
U.S. appears to originate from a more diverse pool of
international interests (see chart). Twenty percent of
U.S. respondents note investment originating in the
Middle East, 22.5 percent note investment originating
in Europe, and 21 percent report investment from
Latin America. In contrast, 18 percent of Canadian
respondents report investment from the Middle East,
somewhat fewer than 17 percent report European
investment, and just 5 percent report Latin American
investment in Canada. What these figures appear to
reveal is the considerable breadth of global interest in
the U.S. as a destination for foreign investment capital.
Of course, it is important to note that the heaviest
cross-border flows in commercial real estate continue to
be between the U.S. and Canada. Canadian investors,
faced with somewhat more limited opportunities for
investment in prime properties at home, find the U.S.
market appealing for its size and variety. For instance,
Canada accounted for as much as one-third of the
2

JLL, International Capital Sources-U.S. Inflows, Winter 2014

Avison Young, Commercial Real Estate Investment Review: Canada, U.S.
and U.K., Fall 2014

3

foreign capital invested in U.S. real estate in 2013,

according to a recent JLL report.2 In 2014, the JLL
report says, Canadian investment in U.S. markets
rose 70 percent over the prior year. That comes to
roughly $9.7 billion in property market investments,
according to CBRE- with Canadian capital flowing
into U.S. office markets, multifamily residential,
industrial properties, and retail properties. The top ten
U.S. markets for Canadian investors were, in order:
Boston, Manhattan, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta,
Chicago, Washington, Austin, Denver, and Orlando.3
Flows in the other direction are strongly positive,
albeit a bit more subdued, as well. U.S. investors take
advantage of dollar ($CDN) valuations in Canada and
the stability of the Canadian market for long-term
investment. It is worth noting that Canada ranked
5th in the Global Opportunity Index, published in
2013 by the Milken Institute, for attracting foreign
investment.4 As Bentall Kennedy noted that same year,
Foreign investors have an increasing presence in
the Canadian market ... (acknowledging) the attractive
qualities that make Canada a good place to invest.5
For more on the Rosenthal J. Rosenthal Center for Real Estate
Studies and the latest research report, Changing Dynamics
and Practitioner Perspectives in the North American Market:
Cross Border Demand & Investment | Shifting Office Space
Demand, contact Peter at pburley@realtors.org.
The Milken Institute, Best-Performing Cities (http://www.best-cities.org ) 2013
Bentall Kennedy, Perspective on Real Estate | Canada, 2013

4
5

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

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17

BUSINESS TOOLS

R E A LTO R S
P RO P E RT Y R E S O U RC E
A COMMERCIAL TOOL FOR YOUR BUSINESS

REALTORS Property Resource (RPR) provides you comprehensive market

data that saves time & money for REALTORS specializing in commercial
property sales & leasing.
RRP is a parcel central database of over 160 million
properties in the United States with a strong base
of public record data including mortgage, tax and
distressed property information, and layered with
FEMA flood maps, demographic information, heat
maps and more. RPR is your benefit from NAR,
already incorporated into your REALTOR dues, and
is available to all REALTORS across the country.

WHAT CAN RPR HELP ME DO?

Determine where the right customers are
for a business.
Using demographic, psychographic and spending
data information, RPR helps you identify areas of
high concentrations of the customers your client is
looking for. Research sites for business expansion
based on the selection of specific corporate cultural
attributes.
Find the best location for a business.
Help business owners find the best location based
on an analysis of spending data within a drive time,
radius, or general area. Find the optimum site for
a specific business type like restaurant, coffee or
apparel shop, etc.
Decide the best retail business for a location.
Determine what business would be appropriate
for a given location by examining spending data

18

SPRING 2015

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

and what business types are underserving the area.

Receive results in a chart indicating which business
types are over and underrepresented in a specific
area.

WHAT RPR TOOLS HELP ME?

Powerful Thematic Maps
View demographic information overlaid in
your defined area of interest, allowing you to see
locations of interest with the highest concentration
of the indicator. Select points of interest (POI) and
examine sales volume and number of employees for
businesses.
Comprehensive Reporting
Provide your client with the best reports in the
business in just a few minutes! Whether your client
is looking for a detailed trade area report, business
opportunities chart or a property report, you can
create professional RPR Commercial reports that
are guaranteed to impress.

BUSINESS TOOLS

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING

ABOUT RPR?
Here are just a few examples, go to myrpr.com to watch
videos and read the full case studies from these and
other REALTORS.
In a rural area, its really hard to get data in a time where
there are fewer sales and values are hard to ascertain. RPR
helps me by allowing me to drill down as far as I want.
SYD MACHAT, ALC, CCIM, CRE, Maryland

Its been very helpful to REALTORS when theyre

working with clients who are maybe looking to add a
location or are evaluating their current location. Theres
a lot of demographic information that can be provided
to the client to really help make their decision much
easier, whether its looking at where their target audience
is, where the income levels are that would be required to
sustain the business.
SHARI VELDMAN, Association Executive,
Commercial Association of REALTORS Michigan

As a commercial practitioner, we typically dont get

involved with how to market our clients business. With
the RPR report, I was able to stretch my competency to
a point where I would be remiss by not giving my client
information about where they could also generate some
additional advertising in an area that was not obvious.
But it was obvious through RPR.
PAUL MARTIS, SRES, Illinois

HOW DO I LEARN HOW TO USE RPR?

There are a variety of convenient and customized ways
for you to learn more about how RPR can work for
you. Youll find specific information about all RPR
Commercial training resources at blog.narrpr.com/
commercial.
Live Training & Events
Classes and events in local markets throughout the
country. Go to blog.narrpr.com/training and click
on Live Training
Webinars
Featuring a variety of topics, register and participate
remotely from your location. An Introduction to
RPR Commercial is offered during the first week
of each month. Go to blog.narrpr.com/training and
click on Webinars.
On Demand Videos
Self-paced lessons on a range of RPR topics including
how to get started, navigating the Commercial side
of RPR, and using RPR tools to help with your
investor clients. Go to blog.narrpr.com/learning
Online Course at REALTOR University
with CE
Learn how REALTORS can leverage the full
analytical power of RPR in listings presentations
and buyer counseling sessions. Specific scripts
and step-by-step instructions on how to run
the sellers report, property report, and market
activity report are included. Note: This is a broad
course, with a slightly more residential focus. A
commercial version is in development for release
soon. 3 hours of CE available in nearly every state.
Go to www.learninglibrary.com/realtoruniversity

C O M M E RC I A L C O N N E C T I O N S

SPRING 2015

19

ANNOUNCING
NARS OFFICIAL
R E A LTO R C R E D I T C A R D

Now available in partnership between the

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
and REALTORS Federal Credit Union,
a Division of Northwest Federal Credit Union to
existing and new Credit Union members,
this exclusive card program features:
Competitive interest rates
No annual fees, balance transfer or cash advance fees
Comprehensive rewards program (points never expire)
Specialized branding and option to imprint Commercial RE

Apply for a card to manage personal purchases and

one for business expenses. Option for business account
holders also available.
REALTOR.org/REALTORCreditCardCom

Federally insured by NCUA

 redit Union is an equal opportunity lender. Obtaining credit with the Credit Union requires membership
C
eligibility and becoming a member by opening a primary savings account. EMV chip is not currently offered.
Foreign transactions are subject to a fee of up to 1% of the transaction amount.

NAR is pleased to offer NAR

members specializing in
commercial real estate this new
choice in credit. The Association
selected the Credit Union to provide
the official REALTOR Credit Card
based on their competitive and
creative product offering and their
unique ability to meet the needs of
all NAR members.
M ARTIN EDWARDS JR., CCIM,
F
 ormer Chairman of REALTORS Federal Credit Union,
Director, Northwest Federal Credit Union and 2002
President of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF REALTORS